Blackburn boss Owen Coyle vowed his relegation-threatened Rovers would beat the drop after seeing striker Sam Gallagher grab a late winner against fellow strugglers QPR.

Coyle said the 90th-minute winner was no less than his second-bottom team deserved as they threw caution to the wind towards the end in search of all three points.

He said: "There's been a number of times when we've lost points late on - it happened the other night against Leeds United. It was nice to turn that on its head and go and turn that one point into three today.

"It had been coming. We were pushing forward and, of course, leaving ourselves open, but we were so keen to win the game."

But Rovers may also have referee Tony Harrington to thank for their victory. He ruled QPR midfielder Conor Washington’s second-half header had not crossed the line, despite strong appeals from the Hoops midfielder after his effort bounced down off the bar.

QPR boss Ian Holloway demanded that the technology used in the Premier League to ensure the correct decision is made must now be extended to the Championship.

He said: “It’s truly the first time I’ve ever scored a goal and lost 1-0. I can laugh about it, but I shouldn’t really because of the enormity of it in that context of that game when it happened.

“I just ask for professionalism really. We’re asking referees, fourth officials, assessors to be professional when you’re not giving them the right equipment.

“That man (the fourth official) needs to upstairs watching a screen talking to the referee and he would have seen it and could have had a re-run of it.”

Holloway’s team took the initiative from the first whistle and looked dangerous when Washington set up teammate Jamie Mackie, who fired straight at Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Next QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo saw an effort blocked in the box before Hoops centre-back Joel Lynch had a header tipped over by Steele from teammate Ryan Manning’s corner.

Blackburn’s first attack came nine minutes in when winger Liam Feeney’s right-footed shot drifted wide of QPR stopper Alex Smithies’ right-hand post.

Next Washington saw an effort deflected wide off Blackburn right-back Ryan Nyambe, before Hoops midfielder Pawel Wszolek’s dangerous cross was cleared behind for a corner.

With neither side taking control Manning tried his luck from long-range, but failed to trouble Steele before Gallagher headed over from a corner at the other end.

As half-time beckoned Blackburn striker Danny Graham failed to connect with an acrobatic effort, while teammate Charlie Mulgrew fired a free-kick straight into the arms of Smithies.

Following the break Washington fired wide of Steele's right-hand post after being picked out by Manning, while Blackburn winger Craig Conway saw his dangerous cross punched clear of a congested box by Smithies.

Next Washington went within inches of opening the scoring when his header bounced off Steele's crossbar and onto the line before the Blackburn backline cleared the danger.

At the other end Feeney fired wide before Washington's scuffed shot drifted past Steele's right-hand post.

Blackburn substitute Hope Akpan fired narrowly over from 30 yards before Hoops centre-back James Perch shot straight at Steele.

But with chants of "Owen Coyle, he's taking us down," ringing round Ewood Park Gallager popped up with his 90th-minute winner, placing substitute Marvin Emnes' cross beyond Smithies.

Read more on Brentford each week in The Football League Paper